Dual purpose traveling block



March 23, 1943. H. s. KELLY DUAL PURPOSE TRAVELING BLOCK Filed Jan. 11, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR v HAROLD s. KELLY TORNEY March 23, 1943. H. s. KELLY- DUAL PURPOSE TRAVELING BLOCK Filed Jan. 11, 1941' 3 Sheets z-Sheet 2 mm 8 a u \\.\\O1 m \5 on A \\\\m I l M cm mm mm w Ill/mm am mm HEM m INVENTOR HAROLD s. KELLY 4 ATTOR EY March 23, "1943,. H5. KELL Y 2,314,502

DUAL PURPOSE TRAVELING BLOCK Filed Jan. 11, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR HAROLD S. KELLY rum 5% 2 7 7 7 ATTORN Y 6 Patentecl Mar. 23, 1943 DUAL ruerosu TRAVELING BLOCK Harold '5. Kelly, Amarillo, Tex, assignor to Phillips Petroleum Company, a corporation of Delaware Application January 11, 1941, Serial No. 374,115

3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in traveling blocks, including the types commonly employed in the petroleum industry.

Traveling blocks are particularly useful in the petroleum industry in manipulating strings of drill pipe, casing, tubing, and the like in and out of well bores. Present types of traveling blocks are so constructed that only one operation, such as running a single string of easing, can be carried out at any particular time. There are many instances where it may be desirable to carryout more than one operation at the same time. For example, in retrieving a wire-line core barrel from within a string of drill pipe, it is often desirable to keep the drill pipe in motion in order to prevent cavings from settling around the bit, causing the pipe to become immovable. Reciprocation of the drill pipe tends to lessen this danger. My invention can also be utilized in cable tool drilling where it is desirable to carry the casing, that is, to lower it gradually as the .well bore is drilled deeper, thus preventing the wall of the well bore from caving. This application would be especially useful in drilling formations which are near the surface and wh ch, as a general rule, do not provide a firm side wall when penetrated.

My instant invention combines the utility of present-day types of traveling blocks with the usefulness of added novel features which facilitate two simultaneous operations within ,a well bore, casing, tubing, or the like, thus accomplishing a dual purpose which is especially advantageous in many phases of exploration and recovery of hydrocarbon oil and gas.

This invention has for its primary object the provision of improvements in traveling blocks, including the types commonly employed in the petroleum industry.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved traveling block which allows facilitation of two separate simultaneous operations, wherein one operation consists of the movement or suspension of a hollow member, while the second operation is carried out at the same time within the hollow member.

These and additional objects and advantages will be apparent to persons skilled in the art by reference to the following description and annexed drawings which pertain to a preferred embodiment of my invention, wherein;

Figure L, which is an elevation view, illustrates the use of my invention in a common oil field operation.

Figure 2 is a front elevation viewof the dual purpose traveling block;

Figure 3 is a sectional view of the dual purpose traveling block taken along line 3-3 in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a plan view of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the hollow swivel which may be used in conjunction with the dual purpose traveling block; and

Figure 6 is a sectional view of the hollow swivel taken along line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Referring to Figure -1 a derrick, represented by numeral I I, supports a crown block I2 with sheaves I3, I I, I5 and I6. My dual purpose traveling block I! is strung up in the derrick by a cable I8. A set of links I9 suspends a hollow swivel 20 from traveling block -I'I while an elevator 2| is supported below hollow swivel 20 by a second set of links .22. In this embodiment,

'for the purpose of illustration, the elevator is utilized in lowering a string of casing 23 within a second string of casing 24 while a cable tool bit (not shown), secured to the lower end of a second cable 25, drills formation ahead of the shoe of casing 23. The other end of the'cable 25 is wound on a hoisting drum 25. The bit may be withdrawn or reciprocated as desired through casing 23. Cable 25 is strung up over sheave I 5, which is near the center of the crown block I2, from a drum 26, and thence passes downwardly through traveling block II, hollow swivel 20 and casing 23. A second hoisting drum 2! cooperates with cable I8 to suspend traveling block I! in the derrick II. i

Referring to Figures 2, 3 and 4 for the details of construction of the dual purpose traveling block, a plurality of parallel hoisting sheaves is represented by numeral 28. These sheaves are separated {by partitions 29-which partially house the sheaves and aid in keeping cable I8in contact therewith at all times, especially during sudden changes in direction of movement of the traveling block. The partitions also serve as supports for shafts 30 about which sheaves 28 rotate. The partitions are maintained in desired spaced relationship by means of a plurality of pins 3|, consisting of a top pair of pins, each of which is disposed on opposite sides of the vertical diameter of sheaves 2-8 and a bottom pair of pins which are disposed in a similar manner in the lower part of the traveling block. Bolts 32 that are provided with nuts 33 connect each outer partition to the adjacent inner partition and serve as a means for carrying links I9. A guide sheave 34 is rotatably mounted between the inner pair of partitions on a shaft 35, as illustrated in Figure 4. Another sheave 36, which is preferably identical with sheave 34 in both size and shape, is rotatably mounted on a shaft 3! that is supported in an adjusting mechanism 38. The adjusting mechanism consists of four guide plates 39, fixedly attached to the inner partitions and positioned with respect to each other in the manner illustrated in Figures 2, 3, and 4; a frame 40 which carries shaft 31 and is slidable along guide plates 39; and adjusting bolts 4| which cooperate with tapped members 42 that extend sidewardly from the inner partitions, to maintain sheave 36 in a predetermined position.

Referring to Figures and 6, it will be observed that swivel 20 includes a hollow inner member 43 which is externally threaded at its iower extremity to engage with an internally threaded bearing ring 44 and is provided with a .pair of lugs 45in its upper portion for attachment to links I9. For the purpose of safety, the lugs are preferably provided with openings 46 which receive bolts 41 that engage taps 48. A second bearing member 49, concentrically positioned with respect to inner member 43, is free to rotate upon ring 44. In order to minimize the effect of friction between ring 44 and member 49, it is recommended that suitable bearings 50, such as the ball bearings illustrated in the drawings, be employed. Member 49 is provided with a pair of lugs 5| for supporting links 22. For reasons of safety, I find it advisable to provide lugs 5| with openings 52 which receive bolts 53 that engage taps 54. Providing the lug with bolts eliminates the danger of links 22 becoming disengaged from the swivel 20 during operation.

In the operation of my instant invention a string of casing 23 is suspended within a second casing 24. A cable tool bit (not shown) is secured to the lower end of cable 25 and reciprocates in the usual manner, penetrating the formation underlying the shoe of casing 23 which is lowered from time to time to prevent the side wall of the wall bore from caving. This general principle is commonly known as carrying the casing. The manner in accomplishing this procedure differs from the present accepted practice in that the string of casing is suspended in the derrick by elevator 2| rather than being clamped up at the surface of the ground. Cable 25 extends upwardly from the cable tool bit through casing 23, elevator 2|, and hollow swivel 20; between guide sheaves 34 and 36 in traveling block I1; over sheave l5 of the crown block l2 on derrick H; and thence downwardly to drum 26 where it is attached in the usual manner. Traveling block I1 is suspended in derrick I I in the usual manner except that the dead end of cable IB is preferably secured to the base of the derrick and extends upwardly over sheave I 3; thence, downwardly, under one of sheaves 28, and upwardly over sheave l4; thence, downwardly under the other sheave 28, and upwardly again over sheave l6; and thence, downwardly to drum 2! where it is attached in the usual manner. With the two cables l8 and 25 attached to drums 21 and 26, respectively, it is possible to operate either one independently of the other; thus, casing 23 may be suspended while the bit that is secured to cable 25 drills formation ahead of the casing shoe. It is possible to remove the bit from the well bore by simply setting inner casing 23 on a conventional spider and slips, and then raising the traveling block upwardly within the derrick. Furthermore, my arrangement permits the lowering of casing 23 without removing the bit from the hole.

From the foregoing, it is believed that the apparatus for practicing my instant invention will be readily comprehended by persons skilled in the art. It is to be clearly understood, that various changes in the apparatus herewith shown and described, and in the modes of operation outlined above, may be resorted to as do not depart from the spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A traveling block of the character described comprising a frame, a sheave rotatably supported in the frame, a pair of guide pulleys disposed on substantially parallel axes in the frame and having their peripheral surfaces separated from each other to form an opening that substantially coincides with the axis of the sheave, and adjustable means for varying the relative position of the guide pulleys with respect to each other.

2. A traveling block of the character described comprising a frame, a sheave rotatably supported in the frame, a pair of guide pulleys in the frame, the axes of the pulleys and the axis of the sheave being substantially coplanar, said pulleys having their peripheral surfaces spaced to form an opening that substantially coincides with the axis of the sheave, one of said pulleys being fixedly disposed in the frame and the other pulley being adjustably disposed with respect to the first pulley.

3. A traveling block of the character described comprising a frame, a plurality of coaxial sheaves rotatably supported in the frame, a pair of guide pulleys intermediate a pair of sheaves, the axes of the pulleys and the axis of the sheaves being substantially coplanar and parallel, said pulleyshaving their peripheral surf-aces spaced to form an opening that substantially coincides with the axis of the sheaves, and means for varying the relative position of the pulleys with respect to each other.

HAROLD S. KELLY. 

